Apparatus for treating hair to produce flat curls

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for treating hair to produce a flat curl comprises a cup-shaped member for receiving a manually preformed spiral curl of hair, a pressure member arranged for insertion into the cup-shaped member to subject the preformed curl to pressure, and operator means for moving one of said members relative to the other to apply and release said pressure. Means are provided for applying a rehydrating vapor into the cup-shaped member in direct contact with the preformed curl of hair to keep the curl in its normal hygrometric state while it is being subjected to said pressure.

United States Patent Inventor Jean Francois Van Droogenbroeck 88 Ave. Louile, Brussels, Belgium Appl. No 800,949 Filed Feb. 20, 1969 Patented Oct. 5, 1971 Priority Feb. 23, 1968 Belgium 7 1 l l 76 APPARATUS FOR TREATING HAIR TO PRODUCE FLAT CURLS 9 Claims, 13 Drawing Fip.

U.S. Cl. 132/31 R int. A45d 2/36 Field Search... l32/31, 37, 9, 32

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,899,l90 2/1933 Fogelin......................... 132/36 2,621,280 l2/l952 Judd 3,220,42l l l/ i965 Van Droogeubroek et Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. N. Eskovitz Attorney-Hall, Pollock & Vande Sande ABSTRACT: An apparatus for treating hair to produce a flat curl comprises a cup-shaped member for receiving a manually preformed spiral curl of hair, a pressure member arranged for insertion into the cup-shaped member to subject the preformed curl to pressure, and operator means for moving one of said members relative to the other to apply and release said pressure. Means are provided for applying a rehydrating vapor into the cupshaped member in direct contact with the preformed curl of hair to keep the curl in its normal hygrometric state while it is being subjected to said pressure.

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INVIZNTUR.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING HAIR T PRODUCE FLAT CURLS The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the treatment of hair so as to keep it curled and concerns a basic hairdressing operation, the production of a "fiat" curl.

The curl has hitherto been formed by the following methods;

I. A lock of hair was set into spirals and a complete circle, made as regular as possible. These curls were then wrapped and held in position by a small square of paper, called a curl paper. These curl papers were heated by means of tongs comprising two weights heated in the flame of a gas heater; this instrument was used to press and heat the lock with its paper wrapping, giving to the curl the required shape.

2.lnthemethodusedforthelast40years,alockwas placed or set" on wet hair, after which it was attached by pins or tongsanddried in ahair dryer.

The disadvantage of l is that the hair is dried up and often burned; the curls are irregular, and they are insecurely held by the paper, with the result that they may have the wrong shape.

The disadvantage of (2) is that the hair needs to be shampooed or washed. Wetting in a necessary part of the treatment, and requires a very long period (45 minutes to 1 hour) under the dryer. Slow drying by heated air makes the hair brittle and sensitive to static electricity.

The present invention has for its object to obviate the disadvantages of known methods and to obtain other advantages.

According to the invention, the curl, after being formed, is put down and placed in a cup or bowl where it is subjected to a pressure action and is placed in direct contact with a rehydrating vapor which keeps the hair in its normal hygrometric state through the agency of a male element brought into a position where it is put into cooperation with a female element.

The method is performed by means of a tool characterized in that it has the general configuration of a pistol comprising a handle or butt upon which an arm is fixed hearing at its free end a cup which is open at the top and is designed to receive the lock of hair for treatment and forms the female element of a device acting as a mould or gauge for shaping and treating the lock with vapor in cooperation with a male element supported by a pivoting arm or bar integral with and generally disposed perpendicularly to a trigger.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following nonlimitative description of an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus, with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. I is an elevation in partial section of the apparatus.

FIG. IA is a detail view.

FIG. 2 showsadetail.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the pivoting arm.

FIG. 4 is a section along line lV-lV in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5 to 8 diagrammatically show the apparatus in different positions so as to illustrate the method of working and F 168. 9-12 illustrate two methods of using the apparatus and show the hairdressing operations which can be performed.

As a whole, the apparatus has the configuration of a pistol comprising a handle 1 or butt attached to an arm 2, generally of rectangular cross section, tenninating at the handle end in two parallel plates 3 attached together by screws or rivets 4-5, one plate being used for attachment to arm 2, and the other plate being used for attachment to arm 2, and the other plate being used for attachment to handle I.

At its free end, arm 2 bears a basin or cup-shaped member 6 which is open on top and which is designed to receive the lock of hair for treatment and which forms the female element of a device acting as a mould or gauge for shaping and treating the curl in cooperation with a male element which will be described hereinafter.

A spindle 7 extending through plates 3 pivotally bears a unit comprising a trigger 8 whose upper end is integral with an arm or bar 9 disposed perpendicular to trigger 8 and containing or bearing the operative parts of the apparatus.

The end of am 9 forms the male element of the mould, in the form of a container 10 which is designed to cooperate with the cup 6 so as to compress the curl and bring the hair into direct contact with moistening or rehydrating vapor.

The container 10 is a small boiler in which a rehydrating liquid is introduced through aperture 10' and acts on the hair after being converted into vapor by heating resistances ll supplied with current by conductors l2 extending inside arm 9 and trigger 8 and connected to an external current supply.

The bottom surface of container 10 is formed with a number of holes 13 for keeping the hair in contact with the vapor produced in the container 10.

An asbestos plate 34 disposed at the bottom of the container is impregnated with the rehydrating liquid.

A slider 14 which can move along bar 9 bears on its upper surface a member 15 formed at one end with a fastener 16 connected to a spring 17 part of which extends inside a cover 18 attached to bar 9 by screws or rivets l9 and connected to a lug 20 forming part of bar 9.

On the opposite side of fastener 16, member 15 comprises a hook 21 which receives the central part 22 of the prongs 23 of a forlt; prongs 23 are wound on a rod 24 welded to the bottom of slider 14. Prongs 23 also form pins 25, which are two in number in the example shown.

A catch 26 is disposed along bar 9 and at its upper part. After slider 14 has been slid by hand, catch 26 holds the slider in a fixed position, for a purpose which will be explained later.

The lower part of slider I4 is in the form of a tongue 27 which cooperates with a lug 28 on the fixed arm 2.

The apparatus also comprises a hairpin spring 29 rolled round a spindle 30 supported by handle 1. One arm 3| of the spring is held between screw 5 and the inner surface of handle I, and the other arm 32 makes contact with trigger 8.

The pivoting movement of trigger 8 produced by spring 29 is limited by an abutment 33 or arm 2.

As shown in FIG. 1A the cup 6' may be formed with a peripheral edge comprising teeth 6' so as reduce the contact-.

ing surface between the hair and the cup edge.

The operation of the apparatus is illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8.

1. In the position shown in FIG. 5, the curls are first formed into spirals by hand and are then placed in cup 6, where they are held by the operator's finger.

To this end, cup 6 is formed with notches 6' at opposite sides, allowing a finger to extend through (FIG. 1).

2. Slider 14 6 is moved from right to left until it occupies the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, where it is held by stop 26. Trigger 8 is then pressed so as to cause arm 9 to pivot and the members supported by arm 9 downwards so that the pin (s) 25 come down on the curl and hold it in position, replacing the finger. FIG. 6 shows the pins 25 in the position where they hold the curl.

3. When arm 9 continues to pivot downwards, tongue 27 of slider 14 comes in contact with lug 28 (FIG. 7) and releases slider 14, which rises and becomes disengaged from catch 26. Under the action of spring l7, slider 14 moves towards the end of arm 9 remote from container 10. As a result, pin(s) 25 are pulled back mechanically and no longer act on the curl, but leave room for the male part 10 of the mould.

4. After finishing its pivoting movement, arm 9 reaches the position shown in FIG. 8 where the male part (container ID) of the mould or gauge presses on the curl and allows the rehydrating vapor to act on it through the holes 13.

Two nonlimitative examples of the use of the apparatus are shown in FIGS. 9-10 and 11-12. In FIGS. 9 and [0, the work starts at the root of the hair. The curls are formed into spirals by the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand and held by the thumb and first two fingers of the left hand (or vice versa for a left-handed operator). After carefully rounding the spirals, the fingers reach the hair tips.

The resulting fiat curl B thus-formed is placed in cup 6, where it is first held by one finger. Trigger 8 is pressed, causing element 10 to begin moving down towards the basin. During the movement, pin(s) 25 replace the fingers until the male member has come nearly all the way down; a few millimeters before contact is made, the pin withdraws automatically and allows the container 10 to make contact with the curl and press it.

The container or small cylinder containing the source of moisture shapes and fixes the fiat curl, which is held in position by tongs and cooled, alter the apparatus has been taken off.

Alter run of comb, the curls form waves having the appearance shown in FIG. 10. The waves are relatively short and tight.

ln FIGS. ll and 12 curl B, is formed, starting from the tips of the hair and proceeding to the roots.

After the curl has been shaped and fixed, cooled and combed the waves have the appearance shown in FIG. 12. The waves are wider and looser.

There are, however, numerous methods of obtaining a great variety of hair styles, by suitable use of the comb.

The main advantages of the invention are:

A. The curl, once formed in the mould or gauge, cannot lose its shape.

8. The direct contact with the moistening or rehydrating vapor keeps the hair in its normal hygrometric state, which is necessary for its health and beauty.

Other advantages are:

l. The great simplicity of the method and 2. its great rapidity.

3. The source of heat is of a good regularity and can be controlled.

4. The apparatus can be employed for very useful retouching operations on dry hair.

5. There is no need to stay under the dryer.

The pin(s) 25 are a very important part of the apparatus, because A. They are necessary for keeping the curl in position afier the fingers have been withdrawn, and

B. They have imperatively to be withdrawn subsequently. If they were left between the hair and the electric container, they would leave unsightly marks and might even break the hair in some cues.

The following moistening compositions are cited as nonlimitative examples:

A. An aqueous solution containing:

10 percent of a preferably hexahydric polyalcohol 18 percent 1.2 dihydroxypropane 3 percent mink oil, and

2 percent rose extract 8. Oil

A 2 percent lecithin solution in a 40-60 mixture of 96 pure ethyl alcohol and a synthetic oil obtained by esterfying an isopropyl alcohol with a saturated fatty alcohol containing [4 carbon atoms.

What I claim is:

I. An apparatus for treating hair to curl it and to maintain it in the form of curls, said apparatus comprising a cup-shaped member for receiving a lock of hair, a pressure member arranged l'or insertion into said cup-shaped member to subject the lock of hair to pressure, means for moving one of said members relative to the other to apply and release said pressure, and means for applying a rehydrating vapor into direct contact with said lock of hair to keep said lock in its normal hygrometic state while it is being subjected to said pressure, said apparatus including a first arm carrying said cup-shaped member at its free end, a second arm pivotally connected to said first arm and carrying said pressure member at a position wherein it may enter said cup-shaped member when said arms are pivoted relative to one another, said pressure member taking the form of a container into which a liquid can be introduced, said means for applying rehydrating vapor including a heater for transforming liquid in said container into a vapor, the lower surface of said container being positioned in facing relation to said cup-shaped member and being formed with at least one hole for egress of said vapor into direct contact with a lock of hair in said cup-shaped member, and a slider mounted for movement along said second arm, said slider having at least one pin projecting therefrom for holding a curl of hair in position within said cup-shaped member when said slider is at a predetermined location along said second arm.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is generally pistol-shaped, said first ann being attached to a hand grip and said second arm being attached to a trigger for effecting relative pivotal movement of said first and second arms.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heater is an electrical resistance heater.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including resilient means for urging said slider toward a location along said second arm remote from said pressure member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including means for latching said slider at said predetermined position along said second arm against the restraint of said resilient means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 including means on aid first arm for disengaging said latching means when said first and second arms are so pivoted that said pressure member enters said cupshaped member, thereby to permit said resilient means to return said slider from its latched position to said remote location to withdraw said projecting pin from said cup-shaped member.

7. An apparatus for treating hair in order to produce a flat curl, said apparatus comprising a cup-shaped member for receiving manually preformed spiral curls of hair, said cupshaped member being open to permit the spirals to initially be held in place by an operator's finger, a first arm carrying said cup-shaped member at its free end, a second arm pivotally connected to said first arm and carrying a pressure member arranged for insertion into said cup'shaped member to subject the said spirals to pressure, holding means carried by said second arm and comprising a projecting pin operative to hold said spiral curl of hair in position within said cup-shaped member when the operator's finger is removed, means for moving one of said members relative to the other to apply and release said pressure, and means for applying a rehydrating vapor into direct contact with said curl to keep the hair in its normal hygrometric state while being subjected to said pressure.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said pressure member takes the form of a container into which a liquid can be introduced, said means for applying rehydrating vapor including a heater for transforming liquid in said container into a vapor, the lower surface of said container being positioned in facing relation to said cup-shaped member and being formed with at least one hole for egress of said vapor into direct contact with a curl of hair in said cup-shaped member.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said holding means is mounted for movement relative to said cup-shaped member, and means for moving said holding means to withdraw said projecting pin from said cup-shaped member when said relative movement of said members causes said pressure member to reach a position such that said pressure member presses on the spirals in said cup-shaped member. 

1. An apparatus for treating hair to curl it and to maintain it in the form of curls, said apparatus comprising a cup-shaped member for receiving a lock of hAir, a pressure member arranged for insertion into said cup-shaped member to subject the lock of hair to pressure, means for moving one of said members relative to the other to apply and release said pressure, and means for applying a rehydrating vapor into direct contact with said lock of hair to keep said lock in its normal hygrometic state while it is being subjected to said pressure, said apparatus including a first arm carrying said cup-shaped member at its free end, a second arm pivotally connected to said first arm and carrying said pressure member at a position wherein it may enter said cupshaped member when said arms are pivoted relative to one another, said pressure member taking the form of a container into which a liquid can be introduced, said means for applying rehydrating vapor including a heater for transforming liquid in said container into a vapor, the lower surface of said container being positioned in facing relation to said cup-shaped member and being formed with at least one hole for egress of said vapor into direct contact with a lock of hair in said cup-shaped member, and a slider mounted for movement along said second arm, said slider having at least one pin projecting therefrom for holding a curl of hair in position within said cup-shaped member when said slider is at a predetermined location along said second arm.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is generally pistol-shaped, said first arm being attached to a hand grip and said second arm being attached to a trigger for effecting relative pivotal movement of said first and second arms.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heater is an electrical resistance heater.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 including resilient means for urging said slider toward a location along said second arm remote from said pressure member.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 including means for latching said slider at said predetermined position along said second arm against the restraint of said resilient means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 including means on aid first arm for disengaging said latching means when said first and second arms are so pivoted that said pressure member enters said cup-shaped member, thereby to permit said resilient means to return said slider from its latched position to said remote location to withdraw said projecting pin from said cup-shaped member.
 7. An apparatus for treating hair in order to produce a flat curl, said apparatus comprising a cup-shaped member for receiving manually preformed spiral curls of hair, said cup-shaped member being open to permit the spirals to initially be held in place by an operator''s finger, a first arm carrying said cup-shaped member at its free end, a second arm pivotally connected to said first arm and carrying a pressure member arranged for insertion into said cup-shaped member to subject the said spirals to pressure, holding means carried by said second arm and comprising a projecting pin operative to hold said spiral curl of hair in position within said cup-shaped member when the operator''s finger is removed, means for moving one of said members relative to the other to apply and release said pressure, and means for applying a rehydrating vapor into direct contact with said curl to keep the hair in its normal hygrometric state while being subjected to said pressure.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said pressure member takes the form of a container into which a liquid can be introduced, said means for applying rehydrating vapor including a heater for transforming liquid in said container into a vapor, the lower surface of said container being positioned in facing relation to said cup-shaped member and being formed with at least one hole for egress of said vapor into direct contact with a curl of hair in said cup-shaped member.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said holding means is mounted for movement relative to said cup-shaped member, and means for moving said holding means to withdraw said projecting pin froM said cup-shaped member when said relative movement of said members causes said pressure member to reach a position such that said pressure member presses on the spirals in said cup-shaped member. 